Life-saving and signal rocket.



P. H. GOODWIN.

.LIFE SAVING AND SIGNAL ROCKET. nruqmron rum) nov.a,'1soa. 932,270. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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ATTORNEYS.

me a fM P. H. GOODWIN.

LIFE SAVING AND SIGNAL ROCKET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908,

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET B.

WITNESSES IN VENTOR W wv H Y3 R V- D18 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

PERCY H. GOODWIN OF SAN DIEGQ, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-SAVING AND SIGNAL ROCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To alL'whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, Pruner II. Goonwm, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Saving and Signal Rockets; and I dohereby declare thefollowing to be, a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use'the same.

My .invention relates to life saving and signal devices for use especially at life saving which is an improvement over the method thereof.

of carrying a life line by a mortar gun now in use at life saving stations, in that it accomplishes the desired result with far greater safety and accuracy.

My invention is not only designed for delivering a line to ships or vessels in dis-' tress, but it may also be used for signaling messages in time of war or peace'and either on the high seas or on battlefields.

The invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combinations of devices which are hereinafter described and s ecified inxthe claims concluding this spec' cation. a a

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of iny invention: Figure 1 is a side view of the rocket. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the rocket in its support ready for discharge. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the adjustable rocket trough and Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken, at right angles to each other through the head of the stand for .the rocket trough, and showing more in detail the means of adjusting the same.

- Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, A designates the shell of the rocket which is pointed at one end and is' provided with a rojecting propeller carrymg frame K at t e other end.

A balance plug R is preferably screwed, as at H, into the shell. near the pointed front end B thereof and serves to equalize 'or balance the weight of the line and attachment M therefor at the rear end. \Vithin the main body of the shell there are arranged two truncatedcone-shaped receptacles C and D preferably made of sheet metal. Said receptacles are tapered toward the rear or bropcllcr carrying end of the rocket. T he forward one C is perforated, as'at T, and holes U are also formed in the larger end of the receptacle D so as to communicate with the space around the outsideof the reccptacleC. This arrangement of the receptacles C and D and the per forations T and U provide for an equal distribution of the gases formed by the ignition of explosives placed in the receptacle C and a uniform discharge of said gases through the.

opening 1) at the rear end of the receptacle D whereby a substantially uniform and constant pressure will be exerted by the gases upon the propeller J. Y

A tube E extends through the center of the rocket to near the extremity of the chamber formed in the pointed front end section B. Said tube is preferably secured to the balance plug R as shown at S in Fig. 2 and the rear end of said tube is fastened in any suitable manner to the supporting frame K. for the propeller. A fuse L is passed through this tube and projects at both ends thereof. Slots F and G are provided for igniting the ex )losives. The front section B is designe to contain signal powder which is fired by the front end of the fuse when the'roeket is in flight; Theplug I in the end of this section is blown out by the discharge of the signal powder, allowing the colored fire to escape into the air. It should be understood that any liquid or other signal preparation may be used instead of powder.

Patented Aug. 24, 190-9. Application filed November 3, 1908. Serial No. 460,907.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the propeller has ball-bearings Q interposed between it and the sleeve 0' and collar P mounted around the tube E; The life line is to be attached to the swiveled eye N on the bracket M. In Fig. 3 said line is designated V and is shown as coiled upon a pyramid .g with one end secured to the base thereof, as at h. The use of the pyramid insures the line uncoilingfreely and without interruption.

The. rocket trough W is ivotally supported between the uprights adapted to turn on said lower part about the pin 15 as an axis. Said pin carries a thumb on the head of the stand or tripod 10 by the pins 19. Lugs pending'from the trough. Said rack bar controls the vertical angle of the trough and is secured in the desired position by being engaged by teeth on the lower end of a vertically movable latch 7c operated by a cam i to which is attached a hand lever a. Said latch is guided by a pin m working in a vertical slot 1 therein, said pin being fixed to the housing n for the latch. This apparatus just described enables the operator to scientifically adjust either the vertical or horizontal angle of the .trough without changing the other which may have been already determined. These adjustments can be made very readily in a practical manner and without undue exertion.

I claim:

I l Arocket of the character described com prising a cylindrical shell having a chamber therein adapted to hold an explosive and provided with an o ening in its rear end, a propeller supported beyond the rear end of said shell in position to be driven by the gases discharged from the explosive chamber, and means to ignite the ex losive in said chamber.

2. A rocket of the c aracter described comprising a cylindrical shell having a truncatedcone-shaped chamber therein ada ted to hold an explosive, the walls of said 0 amber tapering toward the rear end of the shell which is provided with an o ening therein, a pro eller supported beyon the rear end of sai shell in position to be driven by the ases discharged from the explosive chamer, and means to ignite the explosive in said chamber..

3. Arocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having two trunthe ases discharged from the explosive cham ers, and means to ignite the explosive 1n said chambers. r

-' 4. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having two truncated cone shaped chambers therein arranged end to end for holding an explosive, the walls of both of said chambers being tapered toward the rear end of said rocket, the forward chamber having its lateral wall perforated butcut oil from direct communication with the rear chamber, said latter chamber having perforations in its larger end communicating with the space around the outslde of said forward chamber, said shell being provided with an openingin its rear end, a pro eller supported beyond the rear end of sai shell in position to be driven by the gases discharged from the explosive chambers, and a fuse carrying tube extend ing through said chambers and having slots.

therein opening into each.

5. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a chamber therein adapted to hold'an explosive and provided with an opening in its rear end, a fuse carrying tube arranged centrally of said chamber and projecting from the rear of said shell, and a propeller mounted around said projecting portion of said tube in position to be driven by the gases discharged from the explosive chamber.

6. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a chamber at its rear end adapted to hold an -explosive and a separate chamber at its front end for holding signal material, a propeller supported beyond the rear end of said shell in osition to be driven by the gases discharged rom the explosive chamber through an opening in the rear end of said shell, means to ignite the explosive and signal materialin said chambers, anda plug in the wall of 10.

the front chamber adapted to be blown out when the signal material is ignited.

7. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a chamber at its rear end adapted to hold an explosive and a separate chamber at its front end for holding signal material, a propeller sup ported beyond the rear end of said shell 1n osition to be driven by the gases discharged rom the explosive chamber through an 11.

opening 1n the rear end of said shell, a fuse-. carrying tube extending through the rear chamber and o ening into said chamber and into the front chamber, and a plug in the wall of said front chamber adapted to be blown 118 out when the signal material is ignited.

8. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a chamber at its rear end adapted to hold an explosive and a separatechamber at its front end 120 for holding signal material, a propeller supported beyond the rear end of said shell 1n 1 prosition'to be driven by the gases discharged om the explosive chamber through an opening in the rear end of said shell, a fusecarrying tube extending through the rear chamber and opening near the rear end of said chamber and near the front end of the front chamber, anda plug in the front end wall of said latter chamber adapted to be 13 blown out when the signal material is ignited.

9. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a cham-.

ber therein adapted to hold an explosive and provided with an opening in its rear end, a propeller supported beyond the rear end of said shell in position to be driven by the gases discharged from the explosive chamber, means to ignite the explosive in said chamber, and a balance plug near the forward end of the shell.

10. A rocket of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having a chamber atits rear end adapted to hold an explosive and a separate chamber at its front end for holding signal material, a balance plug near the front end of said shell andconstituting the partition between said chambers, .a propeller supported at the rear end of said shell in position to be driven by the gases discharged from the explosive chamber through an opening in the rear end of the shell, means to ignite the explosive and signal material in said chambers, and a plug in the wall of the front chamber adapted to be blown out when the signal material is ignited.

11. The combination, with a stand, of a horizontal turn table mounted on said stand, a combined pivot and clamping bolt passed vertically through said turn table and stand,

a rocket trough carried by said turn table and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, and means to lock said trough at the desired incline.

12. The combination, with a stand, of a turn table mounted on said stand, means to lock said turn table when desired, a rocket trough mounted on said turn table and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, an ar -uate bar depending from said trough, a latch adapted to clamp upon said bar, a cam fitted in said latch, and a crank connected to said cam for actuating said latch, whereby said trough maybe adjusted and retained at the desired incline.

13. The combination, with a stand and a rocket trough mounted thereon and having two spaced apart lugs adapted to support a rocket in position to be discharged, of a rocket provided with a propeller-carryi11g frame having a plurality of wings, the edge of one of which is adapted to rest between said lugs when the rocket is in the trough.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

PERCY GOODWIN.

Witnesses:

J. W. MASTER, N. M. Goonwm. 

